By Cindy Jackson
Reporter
January 31, 2019 10:30 a.m.
On the agenda of the Nassau County Board of Commissioners meeting for January 28, 2019, was a request by the University of Florida Jacksonville Physicians, Inc. (UFJP) for the consideration of the issuance of Industrial Development Revenue Notes for “the financing the construction, installation and equipping of an approximately 40,000 square foot ambulatory medical services building planned to offer primary care, urgent care, imaging, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, mental health, dentistry, and laboratory services and related facilities” and to be located in the Wildlight district.
This issue, while discussed at an earlier meeting of the commissioners was not voted on as the commissioners expressed their concern with public perception and wanted additional time to consider.
Speaking on behalf of the University of Florida Jacksonville Physicians, Inc. was Tim Reinschmidt, Director of Finance for the group and Richard Hard, legal counsel with Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson. As described on their website, University of Florida Jacksonville Physicians, Inc. “is a network of more than 60 primary and specialty care centers that offer first-rate care from the nearly 400 UF faculty physicians based in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia.”
When asked why public monies were needed by the group, Mr. Reinschmidt responded the Wildlight project will be the first time they will actually own the facility explaining the group typically leases its facilities in other locations. A tax-exempt organization since 1979, Mr. Reinschmnidt explained that “charity, research and education is the cornerstone of why [UFJP] is a tax-exempt organization.”
Reinschmnidt went on to say the group has been providing services in Nassau County for over 30 years, opening its first clinic in Callahan in the 1990s. Since that time, another location opened in Yulee followed by one on Amelia Island in 2017. Last year alone, UFJP provided over 31,000 patient visits in Nassau County. Of those, said Reinschmnidt, “over 1,000 of those were Medicaid or uncompensated care.” He also emphatically stated, “we are not affiliated with the developer of Wildlight,” having simply responded to a request for proposals (an RFP).
Despite that proclamation, Commissioner Leeper was the first to speak after the UFJP presentation and pointedly said “here we are helping you, with $30 million in public funding, which also helps our corporate partner Rayonier, to succeed in the Wildlight community,” referencing the current lawsuit pending against Nassau County brought by the developers of Wildlight.
After the public hearing was “closed,” Commissioner Edwards was quick to make a motion to deny the request. That motion was seconded by Commissioner Leeper at which time he added, “it’s the idea of coming through Nassau County for public monies to benefit a corporate partner who fails to live up to their promises. Nothing against you (UFJP) but tonight, I have to deny it.”
The motion to deny the request was unanimous, 5-0. No industrial revenue notes for the University of Florida Jacksonville Physicians for their facility in the Wildlight community.
As is customary at BOCC meetings, reports are given by various departments. At the last meeting, Dawn Bostwick, Director of the Nassau County Library System spoke and on the 28th, the new director for the Office of Management and Budget, Megan Diehl, gave a brief presentation on first quarter operations.
Also customary at commissioner meetings, a segment which immediately comes before adjournment is the time when each commissioner has the opportunity to bring their concerns to the rest of the board. On the 28th, Commissioner Bell expressed his desire to have requisite studies done about impact fees so “growth can pay for growth” citing the fact that in addition to recreation fees, there are also impact fees for fire and rescue, law enforcement and administration. Such studies can take between 90-180 days to complete yet fees cannot be increased until said studies are done. Commissioner Leeper also took the opportunity to inquire about the Simmons Road and 14th Street intersection and the high number of accidents that occur there. Reports on those issues and others are due in the coming weeks as reported County Attorney/County Manager Michael Mullin.
The meeting adjourned just short of an hour. For copies of agendas or to view proceedings, please go to http://www.nassauclerk.com/default.cfm?pid=bocc.
In addition, to contact your elected commissioner, phone numbers and email addresses can be accessed at https://www.nassaucountyfl.com/95/Meet-the-Commissioners.
Editor’s Note: Born in Hagerstown, Maryland, Cindy received her BA in Political Science from Dickinson College. Upon graduation, Cindy began her career on Capitol Hill working as a legislative aide and director. She later became a part of the public relations and lobbying team of the American Iron and Steel Institute and served as director of the office of state legislative affairs for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). Cindy was involved in economic development with the state of Maryland, and served as executive director of Leadership Washington County. As a community volunteer, Cindy participates in numerous volunteer activities serving as a member of Sunrise Rotary, and as board member of Cummer Amelia Board of Directors.
The same three Commissioners that peddled this “great deal for Nassau” into the chambers and approved it on a 3-2 vote are now backpedaling. How much is all of the litigation going to cost the taxpayers of Nassau County is the question. Fabulous. (Insert sarcasm here.)
Having UF Health locate such a facility here in Nassau County seems like a coup for this county, so why punish them for what the Commission claims Rayonier did? Mr. Leeper’s statement seems to say that he knew the bond request had nothing to do with Rayonier, but that he was willing to turn them down just because of where they bought their land (from Rayonier). He said that he was voting against the request because he didn’t want to reward “a corporate partner [Rayonier] who fails to live up to their promises.” His “no” vote was pretty clearly not about the facts of the request, but all about sending Rayonier a message. Doesn’t UF Health deserve fair consideration?
It sounds like integrity is important to Mr. Leeper. (He want’s Rayonier to live up to their supposed agreement, right?) Mr. Leeper recently went on record refuting a claim that he no longer lives in District 1 (which would make him ineligible to represent his district on the County Commission, and he’d have to immediately resign his seat). Mr. Leeper stated that he moved in with his parents in Fernandina, still in District 1, and therefore can legally continue to represent the district on the county commission. Unfortunately, it is not true. I’m neighbor to his parents; I can see their house from my front window. I can tell you he doesn’t live here. Mr. Leeper doesn’t visit the neighborhood more than a couple hours a week. The truth is less “lives there” and more “visits Mom and Dad from time to time.” He’s trying to maintain a perception that is not based on fact. Where’s that integrity now?
In fairness, I should note that I work for Rayonier, hwoever, these opinions are all mine, not Rayonier’s. Part of the reason I’ve spent the last 30 years working there is that I know Rayonier to be an honest and ethical company. Because of that, I tend to believe what Rayonier has said about Wildlight. The Commission’s statements seem very short on facts, and it feels like they are left with nothing but to manage perceptions — and they don’t seem to be able to back those perceptions up with facts. It’s clear that there is a lot more to the Wildlight story than we, the public, know. Amidst all the rumors and speculation, it looks really bad that Mr Leeper and the commission would be punishing UF Health for things they didn’t do.